20-year sentence for Illinois deputy who shot Sonya Massey during 911 call

A former Illinois sheriff’s deputy, Sean Grayson, was sentenced to 20 years for fatally shooting Sonya Massey in her Springfield home after Massey summoned 911; Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder, saying he feared for his safety as the encounter escalated with Massey near a stove. Massey’s family pressed for the maximum penalty, highlighting the impact on her children and the broader issue of police use of force in homes. The case drew national attention and spurred reforms, including a civil rights settlement, a DOJ inquiry, de‑escalation training, use‑of‑force data collection, and Illinois changes mandating greater transparency in recruiting for law‑enforcement jobs.